CFE Federal Credit Union, Orlando, Fla., has donated $10,000 to Rock Lake Elementary School's Media Center. This contribution will be used to provide new books and supplies for the school's Media Center. Students and teachers expressed their gratitude by presenting CFE Federal Credit Union's President/CEO Joseph A. Melbourne, with a BIG thank you card signed by Rock Lake students. The donation is part of a five-year commitment for CFE to donate $500,000 to local Orange County Public Schools. Service Plus Credit Union, Riverside, Calif., has donated Dr. Seuss books to Franklin Elementary and Jefferson Elementary Schools. In addition, in honor of the nationwide event "Read Across America" Service Plus CU along with its "special guest" The Cat in the Hat, visited local elementary schools to read aloud to the students. UT Federal Credit Union, Knoxville, Tenn., has raised $5,282.04 for the East Tennessee Children's Hospital's Hope-A-Thon to support its annual diabetes camp – Camp Cure and $1,025.17 for the UT Hospital's Pediatric Unit to be used to purchase car seats for children involved in accidents. Camp Cure is designed to allow children with diabetes to experience normal camp activity while also learning about their illness and ways to manage it. Pioneer Federal Credit Union, Mountain Home, Idaho, has raised $1,046 for the Children's Miracle Network by channeling Elvis. Staffers here raced to collect donations for the chance to be "Elvis" at the annual credit union party. Lending Services VP Curt Perry, who raised the most money, ended up receiving the honor of donning Elvis garbs. Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union, Clarksville, Tenn., has raised $3,635.97 for the American Heart Association. For the second straight year staffers donated their time and money for the American Heart Walk. Nationwide, over 1,000,000 walkers will participate in over 600 Heart Walk events. 70.1 million Americans suffer from some sort of cardiovascular disease. Financial Partners Credit Union, Downey, Calif., has donated $1,000 to Gangs Out Of Downey, which is a program dedicated to combating gang activity in the community. Much of the donated money will support the Downey Police positioned at local high school campuses. Funds also will go toward other anti-gang endeavors such as camping opportunities for troubled children, after school and summer sports programs and student/parent counseling. Yakima Valley Credit Union, Wash., has donated $9,080.12 to the Yakima Police Athletic League (PAL). PAL is a sports-oriented, crime prevention program that relies on athletics, education and recreation activities to form a bond between police officers and the youth of the community. They rely on donations from the community as well as police and community volunteers to make their program a success. Yakima Valley CU will continue to raise money for PAL throughout 2005. Northwest Federal Credit Union, Herndon, Va., has helped raise some $10,000 for the Children's Miracle Network. The latest fundraising initiative includes the sale of Buckle-Up Buddies. The popular stuffed animal seatbelt protectors are sold for $5 each, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to CMN. In addition to the sale of the Buckle-Up Buddies, NWFCU participates in the black tie gala and silent auction preceding the annual Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10-Mile Run, accepts donations year-round, hosts on-site book drives and will participate in the annual Credit Union Bowl-a-Thon in June. Cardinal Community Credit Union, Mentor, Ohio, has teamed up with Dr. Juan Galvan DDS to sponsor an American Red Cross Blood Drive. A total of 38 people volunteered to donated blood. MidWest Financial Credit Union, Ann Arbor, Mich., and UMHS Financial have raised $475 for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Washtenaw County during the organization's annual Bowl For Kids Sake event. Funds raised provide guidance and support to at-risk children through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and go directly toward matching children with carefully screened, caring Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers. MidWest Financial CU has been a participant and a sponsor of this local fundraising event for five years. Robins Federal Credit Union, Warner Robins, Ga., has donated 56 pillowcases to Egleston Children's Hospital in Atlanta as part of the "Pillowcases for Kids" campaign. Children admitted into the hospital will receive a decorative pillowcase in their admission kit. Spokane Teachers Credit Union, Liberty Lake, Wash., has made an investment in Automatic External Defibrillators (AED) for all eight branch locations, as well as its corporate headquarters. In total, STCU purchased 10 with each costing $1,350. AED training was provided by Medic First Aid Group International, which adheres to the most up-to-date medical and educational guidelines. According to the American Heart Association sudden cardiac death from coronary heart disease occurs more than 917 times per day in the United States killing about 335,000 Americans each year. FAIRWINDS Credit Union, Orlando, Fla., has raised nearly $22,000 for the Heart of Florida United Way Campaign through contributions by crewmembers and FAIRWINDS Charities. FAIRWINDS' generous support of the United Way demonstrates their commitment and participation to the community they serve. HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union, Honolulu, has donated $1,000 to the Hawaii Council on Economic Education to help it reach its $36,000 fundraising goal. The credit union contribution will help the Council with a number of programs to promote its mission of improving the teaching of economics in Hawaii's public and private schools as well as increasing the economic and financial literacy of the islands' students and residents.